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Sarah Higgins’ funeral took place on Thursday at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Moukaraka, on the northern side of the Hokianga Harbour.
Higgins died suddenly on the weekend and her body was taken home to her parents near Pawarenga, in Northland.
The 25 -year-old was a real estate agent for Barfoot and Thompson and member of the Franklin Local Board.
At 10:15 Sarah was taken briefly taken to Ngai Tupoto Marae and then carried up the hill and placed in the centre of the church, draped with cream-coloured flowers.
Catholic Catechist Anthony Rudolph led the service where he spoke of the love that was present in the church. Watch video
A candle burned that was left at the church as koha by the family of Pat White, who was Sarah’s great aunty.
White had her funeral service at the same church around six weeks ago.
Higgins came originally from Pawarenga in the Far North and went to school at Whangarei Girls’ High School.
In a Facebook post, Higgins introduced herself as “a young girl from Northland who left home and school at 16 because of dyslexia.”
She became a successful real estate agent and one of the youngest ever local body politicians when she was elected to represent the Pukekohe subdivision of the Franklin Local Board in Auckland at the age of 22.
Her death has shocked fellow politicians who knew her.
Franklin Local Board chairman Andy Baker said the death left them devastated.
“This is a loss not only for the board but for the community. It’s such a tragic waste of a wonderful young life with so much to offer. Our thoughts are with her friends and family.”
Higgins had just started learning golf, was an avid gym-goer and a dog-lover.
She had been working tirelessly on a new Bill which would ensure tenants are told if they are living in a meth-contaminated house.
She presented the policy idea to a National Party conference in 2015.
If passed, it would mean landlords can enter a tenanted property to test it for meth contamination as long as they give sufficient notice.
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